HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A family-run nail salon with nearly three decades in Hillsborough has reopened in a new location about six months after a fire destroyed its longtime site.
Topline Nails recently reopened at 438 Route 206 at The Shoppes at Woods Tavern, located at the corner of Amwell Road and Route 206 in Hillsborough.
Formerly located at 256 Route 206 in Hillsborough, Topline Nails is a family-owned salon that Lisa Nguyen ran for more than 32 years.
In January, a fire destroyed the salon and everything inside, forcing the longtime business to close indefinitely.
"I would say if you had asked me on the day of the fire, if we're gonna be able to reopen, and I would say no because we lost everything," said Thompson to Patch. "There was nothing. I think I salvaged like a couple of my favorite polishes that were in a box, and I was able to salvage that. But nothing, like nothing, like all our pictures, all our tools, everything. We had to start fresh."
Following the fire, a client launched a GoFundMe fundraising website to support Tram and her family.
"We were so fortunate. One of our dear clients created a GoFundMe, and that's when we saw the response from the community that a lot of people wanted us to come back and was supporting our family. So, we decided, let's do it. Let's give it a shot and reopen," said Thompson.
This outpouring of support from clients and the surrounding community prompted Nguyen's daughters, Luu and Thompson, to form Topline Nails Hillsborough LLC and carry on their mother's legacy in the salon.
The business recently held a soft opening as it worked through early adjustments, including a shift from paper appointment books to online booking.
Thompson said the move has been successful so far and easier for both staff and clients.
Inside the new salon, the family has added all new equipment and put a strong focus on sanitary practices.
Each table has a dust vacuum, and the new pedicure chairs are pipeless and use liners for each client.
The salon also added junior pedicure chairs for children, expanded its pedicure menu with deluxe and collagen options, and now uses single-use paraffin wax for hands and feet, along with disposable files and buffers.
Thompson said the salon also offers manicures, pedicures, waxing and hand-painted nail art, and clients can see designs on the business's Instagram and Facebook pages.
Appointments can be booked online or by phone at 908-359-7721.
The business is planning a ribbon-cutting with Hillsborough Township on Aug. 3.
Thompson once again thanked the community for their support in the reopening.
"I just wanted our community to know how grateful we are that they supported us, and we hope to see them," said Thompson.
For more information, visit instagram.com/toplinenailshboro or toplinenails.glossgenius.com or facebook.com/ToplineNailsHillsborough.
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